Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-01-27
Whit Gov. swincio-d Says Of Alaska

Gov. 4. u. Swineford of Alaska.
while on his way eas. recently, was
interviewed by Il reporter of the Pio-
neer Press. The governor said;
Alaska il growing a. rapidly n pos
sibie. in view of certain very great dis
advantage. under which she j. labor
ing. She possesses an incomplete form
OF government. hard to understand
and almost impossible 10 he made
effective for good. She suffers greatly
from the absence OF such legislation as
is absolutely necessary for the devel-
opment of her resources. She has
none Of the benefits OF the general
land laws of the United states. No
government surveys have been made.
and no title to lands can he acquired.
All of the inhabitants are squa;ters.
There are no homestead or pre-emp-
ton laws. Alaska is remote from the
seat of government. She has no dele
gate in congress to inform our law
makers of her wants and plead for
their amelioration. She has no sat
isfactory local legislation. But the
greatest, or one of the greatest. draw
backs to her advancement is the fact
that most of our legislators in Wash
ington do not seem to know or care
about Alaska. A great corporation.
similar to the Hudson Bay company.
has the lease OF the seal islands OF
Alaska. with qualifications through
ont the country. This corporation is
opposed to the development OF Alaska,
thinking that such development Is
likely to initiate against their own
interests. In another direction has
Alaska been seriously hampere,l.
That is in the lack OF proper mail ia
cilities. In one portion of Alaska
having n population of 1000 or
5000. the people last summer had
hut one mail each month. Two steam
ers visited this section each month.
and the steamship company claims
10 have agreed to carry another mail
free of charge, but this offer was re-
fused by the authorities. In the flu
ture, however. three mails "a month
in the administration of the laws is
the inadequate means OF cOmmtinica-
ton between the different settlements.
There are no railroads or wagon
roads. and transit by water must lie
resorted to. With the few steamers
in operation, IL trip by the marshal
for the capture of criminals often
means n two or three months affair.
In the near future, however, n vessel
is to be furnished especially for trips
he. ween the seacOast towns.
When the disgraceful attack upon
the Chinese at Camp Douglas occurred.
] called upon the commander OF the
war vessel for aid in quelling the dis
turbance and for transit. but he re-
fused. His refusal may be made the
subject of n court martial AZ Wash |
ington. A certain town in Alaska has
IL population OF from 1000 to 1900:
has several hotels, u newspaper.
waterworss and many other convcn-
fences. But not n single resident there !
OWNS foot of the ground he has built |
on. Still the white population of |
Alaska has more than doubled i'm
eighteen months. She has twice the
population that Dakota had when Or |
ganized rs n territory, and four times
the number OF civilized people that !
Dakota then had. A residence of
eighteen months IN Alaska, with only |
three months absence. has more than |
confirmed me in the imp essions given |
in my first annual report. that il is |
Il country SURPRISINGLY rich in natural |
resources, and that it Possesses the !
coming gold fields of the world.
Governor Svineford started from !
Alaska on the 21th of December. lie
has been granted "a thirty days fur
tough, and will 90 from here to Mar
puette, Mich, to meet his wife, who /
will return TO Alaska with hinn Re
earding his proposed trip to Wash
ingt on, he said:
! shall urge upon our Legislators the
necessity of Immediately taking steps
for the development of the resources
of Alaska and endeavOr to awaken
n more Thorough interest in her wei
fare. President Cleveland himself is
sincerely interested in everything that
tends to the prosperity of that coun-
try, and intends to make the develop
ment OF the resources of Alaska one
of the features of his administration.
shall endeavOr, while in Washing.
ton, to secure some needed land law
All that Alaska needs is
the same fostering care and attention
that has been given the territories OF
the United States. That all we ask.